Kotoko CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah Banned For Five Years?

The Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has banned Asante Kotoko CEO, Nana Yaw Amponsah, for five years.

The Disciplinary Committee’s decision on Wednesday, 30 June 2021, means that Mr Amponsah will step down from his position as CEO of the Kumasi side.

Mr Amponsah also risks forfeiting the chance to contest the GFA presidential election in two years' time.

Mr Amponsah, who doubles as director of Division One club Phar Rangers FC, is suffering the consequences of the decision of the club to pull out of the league without just cause.

Even though the administrator resigned from Phar Rangers as the CEO of the second-tier side, he maintained his position as the director or shareholder of the club, which informed the decision to ban him.

According to Article 13(3) of the GFA Division One League Regulations, all directors of a club will be banned from all football activities for five years if their clubs pull out of GFA organised competitions without a just cause.

"That the Shareholders and Directors of Phar Rangers FC on the records are hereby also banned from all football activities for a period of five (5) years effective from this 2020/2021 football season in accordance with Article 13(3) of the GFA Division One League Regulations," the ruling from the Disciplinary Committee of the GFA read on Wednesday.

Phar Rangers announced their decision to pull out of the Division One League early this month as well as withdrawing from all GFA Competitions with immediate effect.

The Club stated in a  letter, dated 7 June 2021, that it should be considered as defunct henceforth which prompted the Disciplinary Committee to activate the appropriate provisions in the GFA Rules & Regulations relating to withdrawals.

The Disciplinary Committee deliberated the matter and concluded that all provisions of the GFA regulations must be enforced including banning their directors for five years.

The football administrator has three days to appeal the decision at the Appeals Committee of the GFA.

Mr Amponsah can head to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland if he is dissatisfied with the decision of the Appeals Committee.

Phar Rangers have also been banned from playing in any competition in Ghana for five years and they will be relegated to lowest tier of Ghana football on their return after the ban expires.